Health Ministry studying need for fourth shot among Sinovac-Pfizer recipients

KUALA LUMPUR – In light of the threat of Omicron, the Health Ministry is studying the need for Sinovac vaccine recipients who already received a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine booster shot to get another dose, said Khairy Jamaluddin.

The health minister, in a press conference this morning, said his ministry’s technical team took note of a study that found Sinovac’s two-dose vaccine regimen followed by a single Pfizer-BioNTech booster jab is less effective against Omicron.

So, he added, the ministry’s technical team will submit relevant information and make recommendations to the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) once the study is finalised.

“The technical team is still studying the information and will be making recommendations to CITF, as usual, whether those who have received Sinovac-Sinovac-Pfizer have to be given another Pfizer dose.

“However, it is still too early to draw this conclusion.”

Yesterday, a study by researchers from Yale University, the Dominican Republic’s Health Ministry and other institutions revealed that Sinovac’s two-dose Covid-19 vaccine followed by a booster Pfizer-BioNTech shot showed a lower immune response against the Omicron variant compared to other strains.

According to the study cited by Reuters, two doses of the primary Sinovac vaccine and a Pfizer booster shot produced an antibody response similar to a two-dose mRNA vaccine.

It said the antibody levels against Omicron were 6.3-fold lower when compared to the ancestral variant and 2.7-fold lower when compared to Delta.

Meanwhile, one of the authors of the study, Prof Akiko Iwasaki, said those vaccinated with Sinovac’s CoronaVac may need two additional booster doses to reach protective levels needed against Omicron. – The Vibes, January 1, 2022
 

In terms of public health, CoronaVac 2x is insufficient to neutralize Omicron. Even with CoronaVac 2x plus Pfizer booster, NAb is only 1.4x higher than 2x mRNA alone. Thus, CoronaVac recipients may need 2 additional booster doses to reach levels needed against Omicron. (10/) pic.twitter.com/fkTy9aL6eh

— Prof. Akiko Iwasaki (@VirusesImmunity) December 30, 2021